Check out our CALENDAR for a list of upcoming events at Islands & Ocean

The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center takes you on a dramatic journey through the refuge's past and present . . . surrounds you with the sights, sounds - and even the smells of a seabird colony . . . and invites you to follow biologists as their research ship sails to remote islands each year.

The adjoining offices serve as home-port for the often far-flung refuge crew and our facility partner:

Guest Amenities & AccessibilityRestrooms, sitting areas and drinking fountains are conveniently located. A limited number of wheelchairs and strollers are available at no charge to loan to on-site guests. All exhibits are accessible by wheelchair. The Visitor Center offers ample parking, including bus and RV spots. No overnight parking is allowed.

PetsPets are not allowed inside the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center but are allowed on the trails while on a leash. To avoid disease being passed to wildlife, owners must pick up after their pets.

ShoppingLocated inside the Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, the Alaska Geographic bookstore offers an exciting selection of nature guides, children's items, and books. Alaska Geographic is a partner of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge and other Refuges and Parks in Alaska. Their website offers membership and an online bookstore with many helpful items for travelers planning to visit Alaska. Purchases made at Islands & Ocean support educational programs at the Visitor Center. Members receive a 15% discount on most purchases.

Plan Ahead & Enjoy the TrailsAlaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center is primarily a walking experience. Stroll through inside exhibits and explore interpretive trails on the Center's sixty-acre site. If you intend to enjoy the trails, consider bringing sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, gear for windy or rainy conditions and appropriate shoes or boots to explore the beach.

What We Do

As a young army officer during World War II, Jones was among the first troops to go ashore at Adak in the central Aleutian Islands, that arc of submarine volcano peaks that extends from Alaska toward Siberia. He loved the treeless tundra, found the fierce winds invigorating and saw the snow-covered volcanic peaks as needing to be climbed.